Evaluating the Risk of Prescription Opioid Misuse among Adult Emergency Department Patients.

Henry W Young Ii,Neydric Jean,Joseph A Tyndall,Linda B Cottler,Edward A Panacek

doi:10.1155/2022/1282737

Abstract

Background Pain is the most commonly treated symptom in the emergency department, and opioids are often prescribed from the emergency department to treat pain. The American College of Emergency Physicians recommends that providers assess the patient's risk of abusing opioids prior to prescribing opioids. In this study, we use a validated risk assessment tool to assess the risk of opioid abuse among emergency medicine patients and the patients' perceptions of their potential dangers. Methods This is an observational study conducted in an academic emergency department (ED). All adults presenting to ED were eligible to participate in the study. Individuals were randomly selected to complete a survey which included the Opioid Risk Tool (ORT) and perceptions of sharing controlled substances. Results There were 300 participants in the study. The 18–45-year age group was the most commonly represented group (58%), and nearly two-thirds (63%) of the population was female. The average opioid risk score was 8 or high risk. Individuals that were at high risk of opioid abuse were less likely to dispose of their additional medications appropriately (19% vs. 12%) and were more likely to share their additional controlled medications with family or friends (18% vs. 3%). Conclusion The emergency department population is at high risk to abuse opioids. The introduction of safer pain management options should be considered among this high-risk group.

Highlights

Pain is the most commonly treated symptom among individuals presenting to emergency departments and opioids are commonly prescribed from the emergency department to treat moderate to severe pain [1, 2]
While males were more likely than females to report alcohol abuse (75% vs. 49%) and illicit drug abuse (52% vs. 33%), females were more likely than males to report depression (43% vs. 27%). ere was no difference in the rate of prescription drug misuse or other psychiatric disorders such as attention deficit disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia in men vs. women (18% vs. 11%)
This is the first study to utilize the Opioid Risk Tool to assess the risk of opioid abuse and willingness to share controlled substances in the emergency medicine population

Summary

Introduction

Pain is the most commonly treated symptom among individuals presenting to emergency departments and opioids are commonly prescribed from the emergency department to treat moderate to severe pain [1, 2]. Studies have shown that even a single opioid prescription initiated in the emergency department has been associated with an increased risk of recurrent opioid use in the future [5]. 21% of high school seniors who reported using opioids nonmedically reported the emergency department as a source of their opioids [6]. Individuals that were at high risk of opioid abuse were less likely to dispose of their additional medications appropriately (19% vs 12%) and were more likely to share their additional controlled medications with family or friends (18% vs 3%). E emergency department population is at high risk to abuse opioids.

Methods

Results

Conclusion